Prior to taking it out on the trail, I did give it two coats of silicone spray so that it would shed water. Packing-wise, I chose to line it with a garbage disposal liner. A perk of hiking lesser-traveled trails are fewer (or non-existent) permits and parking fees. The Ozark Trail does not have permit, parking, or registration requirements for its trail sections. Wetlands give way to ridgelines at the start of the Blair Creek section. The 26-mile route follows Blair Creek south as it carves down a valley through oak-hickory-pine forest before merging with the emerald waters of the Current River.
In fact, my particular tent spot wasn’t completely flat so I quickly rotated my sleeping bag so that my feet weren’t above my head all night. It was pretty easy to make ozark trail backpack adjustments from the side door access. End-door access would have made it more difficult. This pack fits me fine and is very comfortable for lightweight loads.
In the colder seasons insulating layers are a must, and a good rain shell for you and rain fly for your tent are necessary year-round. The Yeti has the most streamlined design of the three coolers, staying true to the original Yeti look and feel. The overall product weight of this cooler is 37lbs empty which is inline with the Pelican, but 7lbs heavier than the Ozark Trail cooler. The Tundra Haul features rubber clasps, which I really like, and hard plastic wheels. For our trip I decided to carry about 25 litters that included 3 liters of water, camera gear, and other hiking gear we may need on the trail.
After the last few trips and hiking with a near empty bag, I decided to get a 20-liter bag since my gear only fills up about that half my normal bag. My suggestion is to get a smaller bag for shorter trips so can save on weight. Every pound does add up and if you cut the weight down by 5+ lbs. On the outside you will find two side pockets and rigging that can be used to tighten the bag, hold extra gear, and an option to hold trekking poles. The pockets work great for holding 32 oz Nalgene bottles or 40 oz insulated water bottles. I suggest have equal weight on both sides or switch the weight around.
But over the last few years my wife and I are into longer hikes. We hike anywhere from 3 to 4 miles at a time up to 7 miles with a goal of a 10-mile round trip day hike. Sometimes it’s a single trail or we combine multiple trails at a state park. During these longer hikes I found it useful to have a large hiking bag and not just a school backpack. Generally, you get what you pay for when you purchase cheap hiking gear.
I’ve tried tents with the door on one end and it is cumbersome. For the end-door variants, one has to toss their sleeping bag down the tent when getting ready for bed. Other items that you may want to keep at the foot of the sleeping area are also hard to access or reach if your head is near the door.
My favorite way to keep kids happy on hikes is to invite their friends. It’s amazing how much complaining happens on a hike with only one family. But if you add another family with at least one kid in roughly the same age range, like magic the hike seems to get shorter and the climbs easier for everyone involved. The coolers remained in the same location for the duration of the 6 day test, only being opened to snap daily progress pictures. In product design, UX gets a lot of attention—and for good reason. Making products that are intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly is crucial.